Valerie Manwill writes coming of age novels and stories with quirky twists. She is an award-winning playwright and has a handful of stories published in varying anthologies. Other braggadocio includes being fluent in both Spanish and Golden Era Vines. Valerie melts in the Arizona sun with her two baby boys and snarky husband.
The lady who gave me this recipe calls it “The Man Casserole”, because it’s so easy that even a man can make it. Is that sexist? Yeah. Is it delicious? Yeah!
INGREDIENTS:
I used “Mexican Style Blend” because that’s what was in my house. It tastes good either way
1 1/2 cups uncooked macaroni
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1 1/2 cups cut-up cooked chicken
1 can cream of chicken soup
1 cup of milk
It looks like this before you bake it
DIRECTIONS:
Mix all ingredients in a 1 1/2-qt casserole dish.
Cover tightly.
Bake at 350 for 1 hour.
That’s it… That’s all you do.
(In fact, I just use a can of chicken to save myself from even that part.)
I LOVE effortless recipes so if you have any, send them to me to try out!
You know what’s even worse than cooking? Yard work. Want a solution? Fake grass. My friend Charlie can get you a sweet deal on AstroTurf for your landscaping, your playgrounds, your pets and your private mini-golf course that you know you want to install right now…
Concept art photographed/edited by Alison Ostler. Modeled by Hailey Stephens*
If you didn’t already know, my latest project that I’ve been writing is a teen drama/comedy television show called “Identity Crisis”. The show is mostly based around my own life. My experiences, my friends, my crushes, my heart aches and my hilarities.
Synopsis:After a messy break-up with her overly religious boyfriend, Elle seeks revenge by trying to fit in with a group of burnouts. After spending time with her new friends however… she begins to wonder who “the bad kids” really are.
Concept art photographed by Alison Ostler. Modeled by Hailey Stephens*
I didn’t write it just to be self absorbed. (Even though yeah sort of). I wrote it because I had a lot of old crazy memories that I didn’t know what to do with. I guess I’ve never been much of a conventional diary person. The idea to make an autobiographical TV show was always a consideration. Even when I was personally living major plot points of the now-series, I remember thinking… Wow… this could make a good soap opera. I actually came up with names for a couple of the main characters at the time (“Ronnie Johnson” and “Adam Levenski”). So yeah, I’ve been kicking around the idea for a while now.
Concept art photographed/edited by Alison Ostler. Modeled by Hailey Stephens*
Here’s a short sample from the pilot episode, if you’re interested in checking it out. (Disclaimer: mild language and drug use)
I’ve been writing the show since August 2016. I’m currently working on season 5 of the six season set (each with 10 individual episodes). I have a small circle of readers who have been asking for the novelization or production of Identity Crisis. But unfortunately, because the show is based on real people and events it would need to be further fictionalized before I would release it publicly. If there’s enough interest in it, I will add the revision to my project line-up.
For a quick overview of each season you can also check out the main description page here:
*Fun fact! Hailey is wearing my authentic high school clothes in the photos. During the shoot I couldn’t stop talking about how weird it was to see a teen dressed up like “teen-me” and Hailey kept laughing at what I used to wear a decade ago.
If I ever DID make the show, let me tell you who I would want to do all the music. My friend Chris is insanely talented, his voice makes my heart weep with joy. Listen to this song. And then you know what? Go and listen to all of his other songs! You will not be sorry. Be prepared to fall in love.
I have always been very day-dreamy and a little air-headed. One day in high school a boy that I sorta-kinda-maybe-liked said hi to me after school. I was OUT TO LUNCH. I completely checked out of my own brain. I started imagining our wedding and how many kids we were going to have and what we would name them.
My mom was coming to pick me up in her super generic-looking Honda. So when I walked out to the front of the school I got into the first white car I saw…
I buckled myself in. Keep in mind that I’m a high-schooler and way too old for this kind of mistake. I started to rummage through my backpack when suddenly… I noticed that my mom was listening to some weeeeird music. It was like Bulgarian opera of some kind? Which is not on my mother’s usual playlist. I slowly glanced over at the hand resting on the shifter, which just happened to be attached to the hairiest arm I’ve ever seen. I looked up in horror at the large Duck-Dynasty-lookin’-dude in the driver’s seat, who could no longer hold in his gut-busting laughter.
I fumblingly undid the seat-belt, grabbed my stuff, tripped on the way out and skidded my face on the grass. All the kids out front laughed and pointed at my lifeless body on the lawn. My mom watched in disappointment from the car directly behind my unintended Uber. I awkwardly picked myself up and got into the correct ride. As we drove away I saw my almost-abductor still cry-laughing about it all.
So there you go. Always double check the car you’re about to strap yourself into.
Hey teachers & parents! Wanna know how to help the zoned-out-daydreamers in your classroom? MusicExplorers offers a variety of original musicals specifically designed for core curriculum integration. Their website also has a ton of cool lesson plans for free! They are definitely worth checking out!
valmanwill.com 